title: Protective effects of neurosteroids against NMDA-induced seizures and lethality in mice.
abstract: The effects of some neurosteroids on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced seizures were examined in mice. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg). 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (10 and 20 mg/kg), 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-11,20-dione (15 mg/kg), 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha-ol-17-one (10 mg/kg) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (25 mg/kg) significantly increased the dose of NMDA necessary to induce clonic convulsions in 50% of the tested animals (CD50). Furthermore, 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one, 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one, 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-11,20-dione and 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha-ol-17-one also protected the mice against NMDA-induced mortality. Importantly, it is only at the highest doses that neurosteroids impair motor performance of the animals, as estimated by a rotorod equilibrium procedure. The other neurosteroids tested, such as 5 alpha-pregnan-3 beta-ol-20-one (5-20 mg/kg), 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha,21-diol-20-one (10 and 15 mg/kg), 5 alpha-pregnan-3,20-dione (15 mg/kg) and pregnenolone sulfate (12.5-100 mg/kg) had no significant effects on the measured parameters. In another set of experiments, we evaluated the effects of neurosteroids on D-[3H]-aspartate release from rat hippocampal slices. None of the neurosteroids tested exerted a significant effect on basal D-[3H]-aspartate release. On the other hand, K(+)-stimulated D-[3H]-aspartate release was significantly attenuated by 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one, 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one, alphaxalone, pregnenolone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The effect of 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one was the most potent and was distinctly concentration-dependent, whereas the other compounds were effective only at the highest concentrations used. The above results indicate that some neurosteroids administered in non-sedative doses can protect mice against NMDA-induced seizures and mortality; furthermore, they inhibit D-[3H]-aspartate release in rat hippocampal slices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budziszewska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siwanowicz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leśkiewicz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaworska-Feil
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lasoń
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013256:Steroids; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate